Egypt to use military force against pirates

MILITARY FORCE: Revenue Egypt gets from the Suez Canal (pictured) has been hit by the rise in piracy off the coast of Somalia. (Getty Images)

Egypt is willing to intervene militarily against piracy in the Gulf of Aden and off the Somali coast, alone or as part of an international force, a minister said in remarks published on Saturday.

"Egypt is prepared for military intervention if necessary, to protect shipping and tackle the pirates, who can be fought under international law," state newspaper Al Ahram quoted Moufid Shehab, minister of state for legal and parliamentary affairs, as saying.

Egypt is also ready to take part in an international force, he added.

The Somali-based pirates threaten to cut into Egypt's Suez Canal revenue by pushing ships into using the Cape of Good Hope route around Africa instead of using the canal to travel between Asia and Europe or America.

At least three major shipping companies have said in the past few days that their ships would avoid the canal, fearing pirates would capture their ships and hold them for ransom.

Many countries have sent warships to the Gulf of Aden to deter piracy but the area is vast and they cannot prevent every attack. Once the pirates take a ship and hold the crew hostage, any rescue attempt endangers the lives of the crew.

Shehab's remarks was the first official sign that Egypt is considering a military response. Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak has said that tackling piracy is the responsibility of the "international community".

Naval experts say the Egyptian navy has enough suitable ships to make an effective contribution to an anti-piracy operation. (Reuters)

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